Chapter 12
Eleanor sashayed into Dot’s Restaurant. She gave a quick wave and waltzed over. “Good morning, ladies.”
“What kind of outfit is this?” Margaret’s eyes traveled from the top of Eleanor’s head to the tips of her toes.
“It’s a tutu for the salsa class I’m teaching.”
“It’s a…unique look.” Gloria made a twirling motion. “Give us the full preview. I don’t believe I’ve ever met someone who wears a tutu to teach salsa.”
“I’m starting a new trend.” Eleanor placed her hands on her hips and strutted in a slow circle. “I was having trouble finding a layered red dress that doesn’t make me look like a clown.”
“And you don’t now?” Margaret teased.
“Stop.” Gloria slugged her in the arm.
“Ouch. I’m only speaking the truth.”
“And the truth hurts.” Gloria gave her a stern look before turning to Eleanor. “Margaret didn’t mean it.”
“It’s okay. I’m accustomed to her veiled jabs.”
“Have a seat.” Lucy pulled out an empty chair.
“Thanks.” Eleanor perched on the edge, making sure her tutu stayed fluffed. “I heard about the plane being shot down yesterday near Liz’s property. What happened?”
Liz filled her in, starting with Keller’s flyovers at all hours and ending with the cops showing up the previous evening to question Floyd. “The bottom line is, even though Officer Tisdale seemed to accept our answers, something tells me we’re still at the tippy top of the list of suspects.”
“Milton knows Tristan Keller, or at least knows of him.”
“What does he know?” Gloria asked.
“He keeps or kept a plane at the Green Springs Regional Airport. He’s an investor and can be abrasive.”
“Abrasive,” Ruth repeated. “As in rude, condescending, opinionated?”
“I would guess all the above.” Eleanor shrugged. “Milt isn’t a fan of his.”
“Neither am I,” Liz muttered. “Not that I wish him any harm, but the guy has been intentionally harassing us and our neighbors.”
“He sounds like a real gem,” Eleanor said. “If you’re looking for more info, Milt seems to think Vlad is your guy.”
“Vlad?” Lucy blinked rapidly. “Who is Vlad?”
“One of the airport’s skydiving instructors.”
Margaret, who had been sipping her coffee, started choking.
Dot pounded her on the back. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” Margaret cleared her throat. “I swallowed wrong.”
Gloria shot her a furtive side glance, monitoring Margaret’s expression while Eleanor continued. “I don’t have much information on him other than Milt also knows who he is and he and Tristan are tight.”
“Friends,” Liz clarified.
Eleanor twined her fingers together. “Like this. If you’re planning on figuring out Tristan’s motive and mindset, you might want to start with this guy.”
The women threw out suggestions about how they could question Vlad without raising suspicions. Everyone except for Margaret, who was unusually quiet.
Gloria tapped the top of her hand. “You’re being way too quiet.”
“I’m listening. I can’t talk and listen at the same time.” Margaret averted her eyes, refusing to meet Gloria’s gaze. “And I don’t have anything to contribute.”
“Hang on.” Gloria snapped her fingers. “Vlad. I’ve heard you mention his name before.”
“You’re right,” Lucy chimed in. “Don knew someone named Vlad. They met at the country club. You said he asked you out after Don died.”
“All right.” Margaret sucked in a breath. “I know Vlad the instructor. His last name is Golubev. Don hooked him up with some investments before he became involved in the Ponzi scheme.”
Ruth slapped her palm on the table. “This is perfect. Margaret is our in.”
“I am not an in. He asked me out. I told him no. End of story.”
“But he was interested.” Gloria pointed to Eleanor. “Can you find out if Vlad is married?”
“Already on it.” Eleanor began tapping the top of her cell phone.
Ping.
“Milt said as far as he knows, Vlad is single. Although he’s not one hundred percent certain.”
“A ring around the finger means little to some men these days,” Ruth pointed out.
A collective groan went up around the table.
“Ruth, always the realist,” Liz said. “We’ll go with the assumption he’s single. Margaret can swing by the airport, accidentally bump into him, start a conversation and maybe glean some clues about his buddy Tristan.”
Eleanor, who was still focused on her phone, shook her head. “Milt said the only way to catch Vlad is by scheduling a class. He’s available by appointment only.”
“What sort of class?” Liz asked.
“A culinary class,” Gloria joked. “He’s a skydiving instructor.”
“Nope.” Margaret began shaking her head. “I want to help Liz and Floyd, but jumping out of a plane is where I draw the line. Lucy’s been skydiving. In fact, she had plans to work her way up to full certification.”
“I never got around to it. The renovating business takes up too much of my time,” Lucy said. “I haven’t jumped in a while. We can go together.”
Gloria shook her head. “The plan is to be novices. You’re too much of a skydiving expert. We need someone untrained, someone who needs a lot of help, a lot of guidance, like Margaret.”
“Seriously. I’m adventurous, but jumping out of a plane at fifty thousand feet is not my idea of fun.”
“Fifty thousand feet.” Lucy laughed. “It’s barely at twelve thousand feet.”
“Fifty, twelve. It’s a long way up and a hard landing.”
“Newbies dive tandem. The instructor is right there with you every step of the way.”
“C’mon, Margaret,” Ruth said. “Take one for the team.”
Margaret’s eyes traveled around the table and lingered when she noted the hopeful look in Liz’s eyes. She wanted to help her friend. Truly, she did. “I…”
“Thank you, thank you.” Liz sprang from her chair and hugged her friend. “I knew I could count on you. I owe you one.”
“I didn’t say yes.”
“But I can see it in your eyes. You’re the best.” Liz beamed. “I’ll even pay for the skydiving session. All you have to do is make the appointment and show up.”
“And risk life and limb.”
“You’ll be fine,” Lucy said. “The adrenaline rush is like nothing I’ve ever experienced.”
Eleanor waved her phone in the air. “I’m on their website. Do you want me to book a dive? They have one available tomorrow at noon.”
“So soon? I need time to update my will.”
“You’re not dying,” Ruth laughed. “Stop being so dramatic.”
“I think Liz should go with you,” Gloria suggested. “This is for her benefit.”
“I agree. Liz needs some skin in the game,” Margaret said. “It’ll be you and me, Liz.”
“I…I would, but I’m sure we have to show identification.”
“You do,” Lucy confirmed.
“Which means Vlad will recognize my name.”
Dot drummed her fingers on the table. “Liz has a valid point.”
“Lucy is out. Liz is out. Eleanor?” Gloria asked. “Skydiving is on your bucket list.”
“I did one jump, ended up with a dislocated shoulder, and my doctor told me I can’t do it again.”
“Bummer.” Margaret turned to Ruth. “What about you?”
“Tomorrow?” Ruth pressed a finger to her lips. “What time is it?”
“Noon. I found an opening at noon,” Eleanor said.
“It’s possible, depending on what time one of my customers comes by to pick up an order. The next day would work better for me.”
Eleanor shook her head. “From what I’m seeing, Vlad must have gotten a last-minute cancellation, because there’s nothing else available.”
“Sorry, Margaret, Liz. Looks like I’m out.”
“Dot?” Margaret asked.
“No way. Nope. Not gonna happen. I want to help, but it won’t be with me jumping out of a plane.”
“That leaves only one person.” Margaret turned to Gloria. “It looks like you and me.”
“I…” Gloria swallowed hard, visions of her leaping out of the plane and promptly passing out, filling her head. “I have this fear.”
“Fear of what?” Ruth asked.
“Not necessarily of dying but dying by smashing into the ground at a hundred miles an hour.”
“You are all too much.” Lucy grinned. “I thought I had the bravest bunch of friends on the planet.”
“I can see Margaret being afraid, but our fearless leader, Gloria?” Dot teased.
“I’m not fearless and I’m not a leader.”
“Please,” Liz begged. “I would do it for you.”
Gloria wrinkled her nose. “You would face death for me?”
“Pretty please? I’m begging you.”
“I…” Gloria was on the fence. On the one hand, she wanted to help her sister, but jumping out of a plane?
“Federal prison,” Liz reminded her. “You wouldn’t even be able to visit me.”
Ruth began making a squawking sound. “Bwak, bwak, bwak.”
Gloria made a timeout with her hands. “Fine. I’ll do it, but you are going to owe me big time, Liz.”